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Clarke won't back down on selections

Ben Horne and Adrian Warren

Michael Clarke says he won't be gagged from speaking his mind on team selections, even though his coach would prefer such conversations remained private.

Selection tension has bubbled to the surface after Sunday's embarrassing loss to Zimbabwe, with indications those picking the Australian team and the man leading it haven't exactly been on the same page this tour.

Darren Lehmann and Clarke also appear at odds on how selection conversations should be handled, after the skipper made it clear he didn't like the team he was given to face the ODI minnows.

Clarke has been adamant since the humiliating loss that middle-order batsman Steve Smith should have been picked for the spin-friendly wicket in Harare.

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Asked whether Clarke had intimated he was unhappy with the team before it was announced, Lehmann wouldn't elaborate on Monday other than to say there was a cone of silence he expected to be observed between panel and skipper.

"I would rather our conversations stay out of the media," Lehmann said.

However, when Clarke touched down at Sydney Airport on Tuesday to begin treatment on his injured hamstring, he was in no mood to back down.

"That's 'Boof's (Lehmann's) opinion, " Clarke said.

"I have always been open and honest to the media and that's not going to change."

The Zimbabwe defeat has exposed mixed messages at the selection table.

Both Lehmann and Clarke trotted out the line pre-series that "the best XI" would be chosen for every match.

However, Lehmann's explanation of why Nathan Lyon was dropped against South Africa and Smith against Zimbabwe suggests the selectors saw this tri-series - six months out from the World Cup - as a chance to have a look at the whole squad.

Lehmann denied there was a natural friction that exists in regards to convincing the captain of selections.

"No. You just chat about the side the selectors and the captain wants and that's what you do," he said.

"But again that's staying well between the captain and the selectors."

Lehmann acknowledged the selectors made a mistake in omitting Smith, however he was keen to make the point that Australia played so poorly they weren't in a position to be offering any excuses for losing to Zimbabwe.

"It shouldn't matter which side we put out there against Zimbabwe," he said.

In the wake of Australia's seven-wicket loss to South Africa, Clarke said selectors needed to think more about the spinning conditions.

A day later on the eve of the Zimbabwe game, Clarke revealed to the media Smith - a proficient player of spin bowling and a handy part-time leggie - was being left out of the side to make way for his own return from injury.

Spearhead Mitchell Johnson and death bowler Kane Richardson were also omitted.

Clarke described the three changes as "interesting".

Smith, Johnson and Richardson were all recalled to face South Africa on Tuesday.

Lehmann has defended the selection of only one front-line spinner in the squad, arguing if Clarke - who has flown home for treatment on his hamstring - was fit there would have been sufficient slow bowling options.